OBLIGATIONS TO APPRENTICES. XIVC 



quire school-teachers to demonstrate by examination that they are 

 fully qualified to teach their pupils. 



Any man presenting himself to the public as a competent 

 horseshoer induces owners of horses to believe that he possesses a 

 general knowledge of the anatomy of the horse's foot and leg, and 

 is fully qualified to jjractice his trade. With becoming pride, he 

 puts over his shop a sign alleging that he is a "Scientific Horse- 

 shoer." By his pretenses in this and other ways, he induces the 

 owners of horses to bring them to him to be shod. 



Now, let us look the facts squarely in the face. If this man 

 were compelled to go before a competent board, to be examined on 

 scientific horseshoeing and on the anatomy of the horse's foot and 

 leg, he would not know the meaning of the term, scientific horse- 

 shoeing, nor could he explain anything about the anatomy or 

 physiology of the foot or leg. Now, if a man does not have this 

 knowledge himself, how in the name of common sense and reason 

 can he impart such knowledge to an apprentice? He must first 

 have both theoretical and practical knowledge of this kind, before 

 he himself is competent to carry on his business, and certainly 

 before he undertakes to instruct others. 



It must be remembered that when a man begins to cut and 

 dress a horse's hoof, and to nail shoes upon his foot, he is dealing 

 with a living organism, full of vitality and feeling. It would be 

 bad enough for a carpenter or wood-carver, wholly incompetent 

 and uninstructed, to cut, rip and destroy insensible wood; but 

 how much more so for an incompetent and unskilled person to 

 cut, tear and wound the sensitive foot of a noble and faithful 

 horse. If any one, who proposes to take up the business of horse- 

 shoeing, will not voluntarily prepare himself by the necessary 

 course of study and training, he should be compelled'to do so, or 

 should be for1:)idden to ply his pretended trade at the expense of 

 suffering to the poor horses that are intrusted to his care, and of in- 

 jury to the property of their owners. 



I would suggest that laws should be passed in all the states 

 providing for the appointment of a competent examining board cf 



